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Trans temps

keith4216

keith4216

Well-known member
What is a acceptable increase in trans temp while towing?
I'm guessing I probaly need to know what trans I have and will check that if needed.
 
What kind of vehicle? What is the normal temp and how high does it go when towing? Does it have an external trans cooler or factory in radiator?
 
09 chevy 2500 6.2 and 12 ford f150 5.0 both with tow pkg and temp gauge run about 190 , stuck in stop and go traffic on a really hot day i have seen 200.
 
Did some searching and I think I found what I was looking for. Seems its ok for you to see 200. Going over 210 you might want let her cool down and look into better coolers. I was just wondering as I'm about to pull a 7000# load and will be watching the trans temp guage.
 
As long as you stay under 200 you should be good. I had a tranny guy tell me that as close as you can stay to 150 degrees it greatly extends your trans life. My big block with 4L85E keeps around 180-200 when towing during the warm summer and around 150-170 driving unloaded. I eventually may add more cooling capacity
 
I think I remember normal temp around 160 with I think 4l80 trans. I just couldnt recall how hot was to hot for the trans.
 
If you don't have an external trans cooler you should add one. The kit will run around $50.00-75.00 and takes less than an hour to install. It's an easy DIY job that buys you cheap insurance. If you add one measure the available area in front of your condensor and install the largest one that will fit.
 
170 to 200 is do able. The big killer of hydraulics is heat. Remember also that towing puts additional strain on the transmission so that maintainence schedules should be shortened considerably. Towing causes the trans to pump more fluid and create more 'soft' transmission part debris that the filter catches. A clean filter and fluid will help lower temps. A filter reaching the end of it's useful life and fluid that is old will both help create heat. Up above 200 degrees, trans fluid will begin to carmelize, and loose it's ability to both cool and lubricate. If she has run above 210, change that fluid quick. Remember too that just dropping the trans pan and throwing a new filter on will leave several quarts of old fluid in the converter and such. A full flush would be better. I like to install a temp gauge on the trans along with a big cooler and a drain plug. With the trans drain plug, you can easily drain whats in the pan and replace it with fresh. You can change the pans contents when you do the engine oil and filter. One of the service trucks here went 500,000 miles of hard working, hard towing, employee flogged torture before giving up some of it's lower gears, and it still managed to make it back to the shop. The tires and especially the brake system are going to be working hard too so give them a check also.
 
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